Brake mechanism for cars.



W. H. DURANT.

BRAKE MECHANISM FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1910.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

' weighted controller when the latter is 1n its UNITED sTArEs PATENT orFIcE.

WILLIAM H. noun-r, or concern, new HAMPSHIRE.

BRAKE MECHANIS NI FOR CARS.

. I pe i at rm r n -j Patented Nov. so, 1910.

a l cation an; ul s, 1910. sem No. 571,!i86.

To cllwhom it Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DURANT, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Concord, county of Merrimack, State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Brake Mechanism for Cars, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts."

, This invention has for its object the pro duction of novel and efiicient manually governed brake mechanism particularly adapted for various types of freight and coal cars, locomotive tenders, and othenrailway roll: ing' stock of a similar character.

One ofthe particular objects of my invention is the production of simple and positively acting means to lock and release the brake-shaft ratchet quickly and easily by the hand or foot of the brakeman, as may be most convenient, the construction and arrangement being such tllat any accumulation of cinders,.S11o\\", or other foreign matter can be instantly removed by a simple movement of theweighted pawl-controller.

Another of the special objects of my 'invention is the production of means for holding the ratchet from axial movement, so that it is' always heldpositively in propgr position, the downhold for this ur ing formed as a part of the. ra e-shaft plate. I I

The hub of the ratchet is elongated'and rotatably mounted in a bearing forming a part of the said plate,and is annularly shouldered to rest upon the outer end of the bearingg'the downhold coiiperating with the hub between said bearing and the ratchet. Said ratchet is provided with a circularly} arranged series of radial teeth, and the pawl is moved into engagement therewith b the f operative position, the pawl and its 'con troller being fulcrumed coaxially on the brake-shaft plate.

These and other novel features of my.invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed'out in the following claims.

Figure 1 isan end elevation of the mechanism applied thereto embodying one form of my'irwention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the brake mechanism below the pp r part of'the body of a box car with brake.

line 2-2, of Fig 3, the ratchet being omitted for the sake of clearness in illustration, Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the "novel features of the mechanism, as'shown in Fig. 1, the bearing for the ratchet-hub being in section; Fig. 4 is a left-hand side elevation of the mec 'anism shownin Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5, is a longitudinal section on the line 55,, Fig. 2, showing details of construction of the pawl and pawl-controller. v

I have chosen t0 illustrate my invention as applied to the top of-abox car, but it will be understood that this later purpos s f illustration only, the principles of construction and operation of my novel brake mechanism making it e ually well adapted for use in the various p aces on cars where it is common practice to locate mechanism of the same general character.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1 to 4, the usual vertical brake-shaft 1, havin at its upper end an attached hand-whee 2. Fig. 1, is in said figure located at the end 0 thebox-car, indicated at A. said brake-shaft having fixedly attached to it in any suitable manner a ratchet 3, provided on its under side with radially arranged ratchet teeth 4. I have herein shown the ratchet mounted on the brake-shaft above the roof of the car, and, fixed to the shaft by a set-screw 6 carried by an upwardly extended hoss 5 on the ratchet. Upon the car roof is securely bolted a heavy casting 7 termed the brake-shaft the upper edge of the bearing being slightly convexed, as at 9, Figs. 3 and 4. The ratchet 3, which is conveniently made as a casting, has an elongated depending hub 10 annularly enlarged at 11 to present an annular shoulder 12, the upper end of said enlargement being preferably beveled peripherally at 13. That art of the hub 10 below the shoulder 121s mounted revolubly in the bearing 8, the shoulder 12 resting on the upper end of said bearing to sustain the ratchet vertically, as will be'apparenhand for convenience in assembling the extreme lower end of the hub is preferably rounded over, as at 14. As the'hub must be tipped when inserting its lower end in the bearing,

to effect the proper coiiperation of the downhold withthe hub, as will be explained, the

convexing of the hub end at 14 and the the bearing-T at 9 facilitates the assemblage of the parts. The brake-shaft plate '7 has two upright parallel ears 15, 16, carrying a is laterally enlargedto form a yoke-like downhold 20 which projects over the bearing,'as best shown in Flg. 4, and at such a helght above it as tov admit interposition of the enlargement 11 between the downhold and the .top of the bearing. When the ratchet hub 10 is seated in said hearing, as shown in Fig. 4 the downhold partly embraces the hub above the enlargement 11 and overhangs the upper end thereof, to thereby positively hold the ratchet and its attached parts from any lifting movement with relation to the brake-shaft plate 7, the beveled mittin'g the tip or point :23 to effect a end 13 ofthe enlargement 11 permitting the latter to pass under the downhold 20 when the hub is-straightened up as its lower end slips into the bearing 8. After the ratchet has been properly o'sitioned on the brakeshaft plate asdescrlbedthe brake'shaft 1 is passedthrough theratchet hub and secured thereto inany suitablemanner.

In Fig. 2 the radial dotted lines indicate the paw -engaging faces'of the ratchet teeth 4;,and the relation between the pawl and such series of teeth is such that when the pawl engages a tooth it is. at right angles to the engaging face of the tooth, thereby getting a firm and secure locking engagement therewith.

The pawl 21 is preferably made as a forg-.

ing and it is fulcrumed on the bolt 17 betweeln thlel egrs 1% 16, and in orde; that 'the paw w1 r0 avit out 0 en a eme'nt with the rathh t I, fiilcrum said g a wl nearer its rear end, as best shown in Flg. 5. To provide a'tooth-like tip for the pawl the longer end thereof can be forged to the shape shown in Fig. 5, the clearance 22 errm and square enga ementwith a ratchet tooth throughout the epth of. itsradial face, as will be manifest. X

I provide a weighted controller to cooperate with and lift the pawl into locking position, and; hereinl have shown said controller ascomprising a weighted body portion 24 provided with laterally separated and (parallel prolongations or cheeks 25 joine at their forward ends by a lifter-bar 26. The cheeks 25 are oppositely a ertured to receive the fulcrum bolt 17 and t easily between the ears 15, '16, and the rear portion of the'pawl 21 is located between the cheeks, pass ng over the lifter-bar 26 and under the front part of theweighted body 24 of the controller, which-latter is provided with a transverse stop shoulder 27. This the pawl drops by controller is made of metal and is most con-v veniently and cheaply formed as a casting.

Referrin to Fig. 5 it willbe seen th the prepon erance of weight of the pawl 2 is between the fulcrum 17 and the tip of the pawl, while the preponderance of weight of the controller is at the opposite side of said fulcrum, and such welght is great enough, when permitted to act, to lift the pawl into locklng engagement with the ratchet. The lifting is e ected through the lifter-bar 26 of the controller, which engages the under side of the pawl a shortdistance beyond the fulcrum.

To render the controller inoperative its weighted body 24 is thrown over toward dotted line position Fig. 5, either by the hand or foot of the brakem'an, an operatlon performed instantly and easily under all circumstances, and when the pressure between awl and ratchet, due to set brakes, is relieved by a slight twist of the brake-shaft gravity to dotted line, inoperative posltion.

When the controller is thus thrown over the stop shoulder 27 drops onto the upper side of the pawl forward of the fulcrum 17, and when the latter -isreleased from the ratchet the weight of the controller is added to that of the pawl to depress'the latter, while the stop shoulder serves to preventover-throw of said controller, so that the latter cannot by any ossibility engage or interfere with the rate et.

1: make the radius of movement of thelifter-bar 26 such that it will just clear the upper side of the platej7 when the'controller is swung about its fulcrum, so that any cinders, dirt, snow or other foreign matter which ma have accumulated between the cars will he thereby removed. This is an important feature, for as the space belowthepawl is thus cleared every time the controller 1s swung from one to another position there is no chance of interference Wlth the disengaging movement of the pawl away from the ratchet.

r The rear end of the awl is rounded or convexed at 28 to enab e the pawl to be thrown up easily into operative position by direct pressure of the foot of the brakeman, and when this is done the awl acts thr'ou h the sto -shoulder 27 to swmg the control er into fu 1 line position, Fig. 5.

of the brakemans foot, so that no time is lost in stoopingover or fumbling with the parts to put the mechanism in the desired condition.

The mechanism embodying my invention may be mounted on the usual step B, Fig. 1, or at the end of a flat car, as the particular location on the car is of no moment. The pawl moves in a. path parallel to a plane tangent to the ratchet at the outer end of the radial face of the tooth engaged by the pawl, insuring always a firm and rigid locking action and the downhold prevents any lifting of the ratchet, entirely independently of the brake-shaft.

Should the pawl stick in its operative position it can be forcibly depressedby striking the controller body 21ta blow with the hand or foot, such action being transmitted through the shoulder 27 to the pawl in front of the fulcrum 17. A single bolt serves as the fulcrum for the pawl and the controller, simplifying construction and effecting a positive, and accurate and sure cooperation at all times between said pawl and controller.

If the brake-shaft plate 7 is mounted 011 a substantiallyhorizontal surface, as for instance on the step of a box car, the bottom of the plate will of course be fiat, to corre spond, but when the plate is located on the sloping roof of a box car, as herein illustrated, the bottom of the plate must be correspondingly sloped. l-lerein I provide for ,this by forming sloping ribs 29 on the under side of the plate, the inclined under faces of such ribs corresponding to the slope of the car roof. This construction is very convenient,'for if the plate is to be used on a level surface all that is necessary is to remove the rib portions of the pattern from which the mold for the plate is made, and thereby the plate itself is standardized.

Changes or modifications in various details of construction and arrangement may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims annexed hereto.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a brake-shaft and a ratchet fixedly mounted thereon and having a circularly-arranged series of teeth, of a pivotally mounted pawl to cooperate with said teeth and lock the ratchet, a

weighted pawl-controller to cooperate with and lift the pawl into engagement with the ratchet, and a common fulcrum for the pawl and its controller.

2. The combination with a brake-shaft and a ratchet-fixedly mounted thereon and having a circularly-arranged series of radial operate with said teeth at right angles thereto and lock the ratchet, a pawl-controller adapted to engage the under side of the pawl in front of its fulcrum and having a weighted body extended behind the fulcrum, to lift said pawl into operative position, a common fulcrum for said pawl and the controller, and a stop shoulder on the controller to engage the top of the pawl and limit swinging movement of the controller in one direction.

3. The combination witha brake-shaft. and a ratchet fixedly mounted thereon-and having a circularly-arranged series of teeth, of a pivotally mounted pawl to cooperate with said teeth and lock the ratchet, a pawlcontroller bifurcated to embrace the pawl and engaging the underside thereof in front of its fulcrum, said controller having a weighted body extended over the rear end of the pawl, said controller serving to lift the pawl to cooperate with. the ratchet, and a common fulcrum for thepawland its controller. r

4:. The combination with a brake-shaft and a ratchet fixedly mounted thereon and having a circularlyarranged series of teeth, of a pivotally mounted pawl to cooperate with said teeth and lock the ratchet, a fixed fulcrum for the pawl, near its rear end, and a pawl-controller pivotally-mounted on said fulcrum and en aging the underside of the pawl in front of its fulcrum, said controller having a weighted body extended above the pawl behind the fulcrum, the weight of the body causing the controller when operative to lift the pawl into engagement with the ratchet.

5. The combination with a brake-shaft, and a ratchet fixed thereon and having a circularly-arranged series of teeth, of apivotally mounted pawl having its heavier end between its fulcrum and its tip, a swinging controller enga ing the underside of the heavier end 0 the pawl and having a weighted body extended rearward, to lift the pawl into locking engagement with 'the ratchet teeth, and means on the controller to cooperate with the upper side of the pawl and limit movement'of the controller to inoperative position. v

6. The combination with a brake-shaft and a ratchet fixedly mounted thereon and having a circularly-arranged series of teeth, of a pivotally mounted awl to cooperate with said teeth and lock t e ratchet, a pawlcontroller comprising a weighted body, laterally separated cheeks to'receive the pawl between'them, a lifter-bar connecting the cheeks beneath the pawl in front of its fulcrum, a brake-shaft plate, ears projecting therefrom between which the pawl and its controller are mounted, and a common fulcrum for. the pawl and the controller, carteeth, of a pivotallymounted pawl to co- 1 ried by the ears, swinging movement of the controller causin clear the plate of ears.

7. The combination, with a brake-shaft plate having a tubular'bearing, of a ratchet having an elongated hub provided with an annular enlargement, the portion of the hub beyond said enlargement being rotatably mounted in said bearing, and a downhold on said plate overhanging the outer end of the enlargement, to prevent axial movement -of the ratchet away from the plate, the inner end of said enlargement resting on the adjacent end of said bearing to position the ratchet and limit movement thereof toward the plate. 8. The combination, with a brake-shaft plate having an upright tubular bearing, of a ratchet having a depending hub the lower end of which is rotatably mounted in the bearing, an annular enlargement on said hubabove the bearing, a downhold on the plate partially embracing the hub above the enlargement and overhanging the latter, to prevent lifting of the ratchet, a pawl to coobstructions between the operate with the ratchet, a swinging pawl-' controller movable to elevate or depress the pawl, upright ears on the late, between which the pawl and contro ler are posi: tioned, and a common fulcrum for-said parts carried by the ears.

9. The combination, with a brake-shaft plate having a tubular bearing, of a ratchet having a hub rotatably mounted in said bearing, meanson the plate to cooperate with said hub and prevent axial movement of the ratchet away from the plate, and an annular shoulder on the hub seated on the outer end of said bearing to prevent movethe lifter-bar thereof to.

ment of the ratchet and its. hub toward the bearing, of a ratchet having a dependin hub rotatably mounted in said bearing, sai

hub having an annular enlargement between the bearing and the downhold, to rest upon the top of the former and extend under the latter, whereby the ratchet is positively held from vertical movement, a pawl to cooperate with the ratchet, a weighted controller for the pawl, and a common fulcrum for said pawl and controller, fixedly mounted on the brake-shaft plate.

11. The combination with a vertical brakeshaftand a ratchet fixedly mounted thereon, said ratchet having radial teeth on its under side and a depending hub, of a pawl to co" operate with said teeth at right angles there to and lock the ratchet, a pawl-controller adapted to engage the under side of the pawl in front of its fulcrum and having a weighted bodyextended behind the fulcrum. to lift said pawl to operative position, a brake-shaft plate having an upright tubular bearin for the ratchet hub, a downhold on said plate to cooperate with said hub and prevent liftin of the ratchet, and a common fulcrum or the pawl and its controller, mounted on said plate.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

WILLIAM H. DURANT.

Witnesses:

NATHL. E. MARTIN, ALICE W. HAYLEY. 

